Front drive automobile



Oct. 20, 1931. A. H. LEAMY FRONT DRIVE AUTOMOBILE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet l 1 ml M a mm @x 'orngy.

Oct. 20, 1931. LEAMY 1,828,327

FRONT DRIVE AUTOMOBILE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 l mfen't rJ JR J M 0a. 20, 1931. A, H. LEAMY 1,828,327

FRONT DRIVE AUTOMOBILE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Imfen fo rUNITED. TATES PATENT o am 11. LEAIY, or AUZBUBN, nmrnm, assmnoa so We a00., or cnrcaeo,

- rumors, a goaronarrou or more rnom narvn aurouoiimn Application fled'J'anuary 18, 1930. Serial No. 421,888.

This invention relates to improvements in front drive automobiles and tcons sts of the matters hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

The autom bile with which the present 1nvention is particularlyconcerned includesa differential ear case disposed at the front endthereoffhelow the radiator and its shell and the main object of theinvention to so form the shell that 'it conceals the greater portionofsaid ar case which would other- I wise make it ob ectionable as to.appearance. Another object of the invention is to so [5 construct theshell as to provide an apron at the bottom end thereof which covers apart of the differential gear case and has a our point supportingbearing on the brake drum covers onedisposed ateach side of the difanferentlal. I 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which impartsheight to the shell. so that the several ortions thereof may becoordinated to pro uce a neat and a; pleasing appearance to the frontend of the automo ile. I These objects of the invention as well asothers together with the many advantages thereof W111 more fully appearas I proceed cification.v In the rawings:- Fig. 1 is a view in front endelevation of a front drive automobile'embodying my invention. a 1 a Fig.2 is a top-plan view of the same with parts broken away construction ofthe automobile.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal ,vertical sectional view on an'enlarged scaleas taken on the line 0 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In generalthe automobile embodying my vention includes a dead front axlehaving a transversel extendi mid portion and rearwardly eflected enportions each ineluding a yoke to which an associated driven front wheelis operatively connected for a steering movement. On the median line ofthe automobile as a whole, in substantiallythe plane of and justto therear of the front 0 axle is located the differential gearcasing,

supported as a to more fully disclose the.

and transmisslon casing respectively; At each side of the differentialcasing is a housmg ciated driven shafts of the differential 'and each ofsaid shafts is operatively connected by a power transmitting shaft anduniversal joints with an associated front wheel.

A radiator and shell is located above'the difierential and is supportedin place upon the housings of the brake mechanism, the shell includingan apron at its bottom end arranged to cover the frpntportion of'thedifferential casing. In this manner said casmg is concealed from view.andthe shell is provided with that height necessary to give it gracefuland pleasing lines which enhances its appearance.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin the accompartof a unit with the engine for the braking mechanism forthe assopanying drawings, 1-1 indicate the front end extension membersof associated side frame members of the automobile and 2 indicates asawhole the front axle of the automobile. Said axle which is located asuitable distance in advance of the frame member o 4 extensions 11,includes a central portion 3 extending transversely with respect to thesaid frame extensions. and rearwardly deflected end portions 4-4. On theextremity of each end portion is a yoke 5 to which an associated frontwheel 6 is operatively con nected for a steering movement about spindleaxes 77 as best shown in Fig. 2. 7

Fixed to each frame extension 1 and projectingin a forwardly andoutwardly d'irection therefrom is a pair of top and bottom springs 8 and9 respectively. Said springs I each comprises a stack of leaves and thefront end of the mam leaf of each stack is opera tively engaged in topand bottom rubber shock insulated housings lO "and 11 respecf tively, oneach rearwardly d eflected end por tion 4 of the axle 2. I J 5 12indicates as a whole casing of the automobile disposed ontheverticalmedian line of the automobilea short the differential m distance to therearof the'axle portion 3. f

Said casing is mounted as a junit with the transmission gear case andengme respectively in the order named but not shown herein. With theparts arranged as described,

In said casing is located the differential gearmany advantages aregained. Although the ing 13 as best shown in Fig. 2. At each sidedifferential is disposed at the front of the of and fixed to said casingis a brake drum automobile it is concealed by the apron part housing 14for the brake drums 15 one on of the radiator shell and this apron partproeach drivenshaft of the differential. V Each vides that height.necessary to impart a neat,

brake drum housing includes avertically distrim and pleasing appearanceto the front posed Wall 16 fixed directly to the gear casend part of theautomobile. The shell may ing 12, a substantially flat, top horizontalbe easily removed when necessary for inspecflange 17 and a front flange18 that termition of the differential.

nates in a curved bottom flange portion 19. While in describing myinvention I have Associated with each drum 15 so as to be referred indetail to the form, arrangement driven by the respective shafts of thedifi erand construction of the various parts. there- .ential is a owertransmitting shaft 20 that of the same is to be considered merely asilis operative y connected at its ends by suitable lustrative so that Ido not wish to be limited so universal joints to said brake drum andthereto encept as may be specifically set forth 4 wheel 6 respectively.From the above it is in the appended claims. I apparent that when thedifferential gearing I claim as my invention 13 is being driven, drivingpower is trans- 1. A front drive automobile embodying mitted tothewheels 6 by the shafts 20 before therein a differential gearcasingand a radimentioned.

The radiator of the automobile is of course tion above the same andincluding a part located in the conventional position at the coveringand conforming to a part of said front end of the automobile. In thisinstance differential gear casing. the radiator which as shown is of theV type 2. A front drive automobile embodying includes a shell indicatedas a whole by the therein a differential gear casing anda radianumeral21. Said shell includes side walls tor shell having an opening at thefront, ar- 2222, a top wall 22 and a bottom front ranged and supportedin a position above apron 23 extending into a plane below that saidcasing and having a portion below said of the side walls. A'central-rib24 connects opening covering and conforming to a part the top wall ofthe shell with the apron .23 of said differential gear casin andthisribdivides the front of the shell into 3- A front drive automobileembodying two open spaces n which ar v di d the therein a differentialgear casing and a radiausual louvers25.

v k tor shell having an o ening atthe front, ar-

On each side wall of the Shell is provided ranged and supporte inaposition abovesaid a boss 26 having a horizontallydisposed foot g, aShell having a apron l W id 27 whi h n g in up ti l ti upon openingcovering a part of said differential the rear em? portion of theassociated flange g r,, g alidhavlng a u g Portion in of'a brake drumhousing 14. A bolt 28 se- 11116 Wlth Sald P of Said casing ur id f ot taid fl a 4. front drive automobile embodying p Q apron 23 i secured t. hb tt thereinadifierential gear casing, means procdmer t an in dl t di l29 on vlding a support at each side of said casing the associated brakedrum housing 14, a bolt radlatol' shell having p g at the 30 (passingthrough each corner of said apron fr 1 arranged, above said \casing andan through anassociatedlug 29 to secure f P P Sald Support Providingmeans .110

the apron to said housings. The central'porf mcludmg PF covering andmtion 31 of said apron as defined by a beading g to a part of saiddifferential gear casing.

' 32 ismade substantiallyas a part of a sphere frqnt dri'Ye automobileembodyin to fitabout that po'rtionof the differential h i' adlfierentlal gear casing, means P casing ust to the rear of the same. Bythis Vldmg a E PP at each Side of g' construction the appearance of theapron is not only enhanced, but the apron is stiffened the frontarranged above Said casing and in a manner preventing vibration withatgage? p sald Support providing means tending noise; Centrally of thetop wall of and lPcludmg an apron below Said Openin the radiator shelltoward the rear thereof is ctwenng and confonming to a P of saicgi myprovided the fi er spout opening and cap 33 dlfl'lerential casingfor thecore 34 of the radiator best shown in frqnt drive automobile embodying1g 4 I therein a differential gear casing, means pro- 35 indlcate thehead lamps of 'the automo- Vldlng a pp at each side of Said casing [bilesuit bl u t d p b k t 36 and a radiator shell arranged above said gearnecting the side walls the shell with the ing and e gaged upon said suort rofront fenders 37 and both brackets are se viding means, said shellhaving an z z pron ba cured together by a tie rod 38 extending low saidopen' gcoveringapart of said gear transversely thru the "shell betweenthe loucasing, said apron having a bul ed orti vers 25 and core 34.,asbest shown in Fig. 1. to conform with said part of said gear tasin g i1% providing cover means, said shell having a' 7. A front driveautomobile embodying therein a differential gear casing, means providinga brake drum cover at each side of said differential and a radiatorshell having an opening at the front arranged above said casing andsupported upon said brake drum part below said opening extending betweensaid brake drum cover means and covering a part of said gear casing.

8. A front drive automobile embodying therein a differential gearcasing, a brake drum cover at each side of said casing, and a radiatorshell having an opening at the front disposed above said casing, saidshell having side walls andan apronarranged below,

said opening, fixed to 'said brake drum covers, the apron covering apart of the differential casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th day ofJanuary, 1930.

ALAN H. LEAMY.

